Human eye glare tester

Abstract

An apparatus and method for testing a human eye's sensitivity to glare under various conditions where light intensity is varied and passes through a given translucent filter to create a glared condition. The human eye is then provided a filter such as a pair of sunglasses that with the proper level of filter may assist a human subject in eliminating the glared condition.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for measuring the human eye's sensitivity to glare comprising: 
 a. A housing, said housing further comprising an open end and a closed end;    b. A holder;    c. At least one translucent filter;    d. A source of light, said source of light coupled to the closed end within said housing such that said light source emits light in the direction of the open end of said housing;    e. Said translucent filter being secured within said holder such that when said holder is coupled to said open end of said housing, the translucent filter is positioned so that the light emitted from said light source passes in the direction normal to the translucent filter thereby creating a glared condition on the translucent filter.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said light source further comprises a varying amount of luminescence  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said source of light further comprises a control to vary the amount of luminescence such that the light source emits.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said translucent filter further comprises at least one indicia inscribed on said filter.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said translucent filter is substantially circular in shape.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one translucent filter is coupled at a pivot point such that said emitted light from said light source may pass through one or more at least one said translucent filters.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said housing is coupled to a stand such that said stand may rotate along an axis thereby changing the angle of the light emitted from said light source relative to a stationary human eye.  
     
     
         8 . A method of testing a human eye's sensitivity to glare comprising the steps of: 
 a. Shaping a piece of translucent material;    b. Securing a light source in a housing having an open end and a closed end;    c. Positioning said translucent material in front of said light source at the open end of said housing;    d. Turning on said light source such that light is emitted from said light source and passes through said translucent material such that a glared condition is created at said translucent material;    e. positioning a semi-translucent filter between the translucent filter and a human eye that eliminates the glared condition as it appears to said human eye.    
     
     
         9 . The method as described in  claim 8  wherein said light source has a variable intensity of luminescence.  
     
     
         10 . The method as described in  claim 8  further comprising the step of securing a control to said light source such that said control may vary the intensity of the luminescence from said light source.  
     
     
         11 . The method as described in  claim 8  further comprising the step of varying the intensity of the luminescence from said light source  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said translucent filter is made of a plastic material.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said translucent filter is made of a glass material.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of inscribing an indicia on the translucent filter.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of positioning a second translucent filter to said translucent filter thereby enabling the light emitted from said light source to pass through both the translucent filter and the second translucent filter.